Reciprocating engine



Nov. 18, 1930. H. J. ALDERsoN RECIPROCATING ENGINE Filed Jan. 9, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet l Nov. v18, 1930.

' H. J. ALDERsoN REC IPROCATI NG ENGINE Filed Jan. 9, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-LE 45 f2 41o 44 an 5f A v 1 l fz y aI 54% y 55:2 I esI I 19 Y ai . a0 :All 50 g I l I l 16 #if I 70 Il] il l: .532 e7 55 7440 5f 4' l. ',l 3,5 5 .32

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Patented New 1s, 1930 .UNiTEDlSrATES PATENT OFFICE-v Hnmenn'rJAMnsALnEnson'orfronoNra oN'fraRro, CANADA, assreironor Fornir-Y rrvii:een Cerri* To JAMES, .Lneeia'or LaivrProN renin onraiiro, CANADAnnorrnooa'rme ENGINE' Appiieatieemea January 9, 1929.V s eriai No.331,243.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in reciprocatingenginesl as described lin* the A a illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings `which f orinlpart of same.

The invention consists essentiallyof the novel featurespointed outbroadly and spe'- ciiically in the claims for neveltyfollotving 'adescription containingv an'l eXplanation in detail of an acceptable formof the invention.

, Hitherto in the lconstruction ofreciprocating` engines, it hasinvariably been the prac'- tice to make the cylinder member rigidin re-`spect to the frame in which the crank shaftV is journalled. This styleofengine Was more or less cumbersome, inasmuch as the cylinder v memberswere necessarily heavy7 particularly in the, case of the internalcombustion motor, to prevent undue vibration When fuels were exploded inthe cylinder. it certain amount of energy developedby said explosion offuels vas lost due to incomplete expansion and tothe absorption of powerby :vibration and other causes. rlhe developed energyvvas invariablytransmitted by a connecting rod or its equivalent from the piston toasingle crank on the crank shaftt `This method of transmitting energy ata single point ,to the crank shaft tends to set up internal strains andstresses necessitating an eatreinely heavy sliaft and heavy bearings tocarry same. I

In my invention7 the cylinders reciprocate as well as the pistons, eachbeing connected to the crankshaft byineans of pivoted connecting rodsortheir equivalent, andso arranged in lrelation to the cranks on the crankshaft that When the piston reciprocates towards said shaft, the cylinderwill reciprocate away present specification and of the exploded fuels isabsorbed. in the moving members and not dampened'in any Way by heavycylinde'rrblocks or the like;

The chiefvobjects ofthis invention there l fore, are to materially:reduce theWe-ight of thel engine by eliminating. heavy `stationarycylinder blocks ,and heads; ton simplify the v design, thereby(affordinga greater accessi- 'i bility to all moving parts,fbyeliminating to a great extentV intricate and. costly valve gears andmechanisms and ignition systems; to rej duceL vibration and runningnoisesuby the l Y construction of a better balancedyengine producingmore'even floW` of power. and Aby elimina-ting to a great extent sidethrust of the piston against the,cylinderwvalls; to in! Vcrease theefficiency of the motor by soar` ranging the cylindersandfpistons thatthe vfull force of the explosion of fuels orthfe ezipansion of gases inthe expansion'chamber Will be transmittedto theci'anlr` shaft toexert aturning effort thereon todouble the length of theexplosion Aorcompression stroke of the pistons inthe cylinders Without increasinlgvthe' throw of the cranks' onthexcranli shaft,

thereby increasing the compressing powers ofthe pistons in the cylindersand to ensure ah'morecomplete expansion ofthe gases in *said cylindersbefore exhaustion;` to eect a U19-@ Sven. distribution ofl power to`thecrank shaft by tlietransmission of the energy devel.-

oped the cylinder thereto at tvvoor more opposingpoints on said shaft,thus reducing internal strains .and stresses inA said shaft; andgenerallyto, provide, such anengine. at a reduced cost, ,economical inloperation and maintenance, requiring minimum Afloor space and thatmaybeutilized inthe develop# ment of power in practically any machine, v i

and that is Capable, of accomplishing the aforesaid results andpurposes.

In` the drawings, ligurel is a fragmentary eoY portion or frame on whichthe engine is supported and which carries the main bearings 12 for thecrank shaft 13. 14 and 15 are opposed cylindrical members bored fromopposite ends to form cylindrical chambers 16 and 17, respectively, inwhich pistons 18 and 19 reciprocate. The cylinders 14 and 15 arepreferably cast integral with each -other and with a common axis. Thebored portion 16 terminates in the head 20 and.V the bored portion 17terminates in the head 21.` The heads 2O and 21 are adjacent each-otherand are preferably formed integral with each other, substantially asshown inFigu'r-es 1 an'd2. The cylinder members 14 and 15 and the headsand-21am preferably cast integral or may be assembled in the ditl'erentparts,

as desired, and are supported on the pin 23 fjournalled or securedbetween the heads 2O and 21. yConnecting rods 24 are'mounted at eitherend of the pin123 vand extend downwardly therefrom tothe crank throws 26of the crank shaft 13 and are connected thereto at the bearings 26A. Insome cases it may be more convenient to fix the pin 23 between the Iheads 20 and 21 and pivotally mount the connecting rods 24 thereupon orto pivotally mount the rods 24 to some other portion of the 'cylindermembers 14 vor 15 and this may be done without materially changing theconstruction or principle of the invention.

' The cylinder members 14 and 15 are reciprocally mounted in rings 27and 28 respectively, carried on the rigid framework 29fse- L cured tothe base 11 as at 30 or cast integral therewith. The piston 18 isconnected through the rod 31 toa plate 32. The rod 31 is made adjustablein regard to the plate 32 as at 33 and so that the distance of thepiston i 18 from said plate 32 may be properly adjusted and fixed by thelock nut 34.

, A connecting rod 35 is pivoted at the upper end on a pin 36 carried ontheunderside of the plate 32. The connecting rod 35 is pivotallyconnected to the crank throw 37 opposite manner. The rods 40 arepreferably reciprocally mounted in the ring 27 in such a manner thatsaid ring will form a guide to take up the side thrust from theconnecting rod 35 or l from other sources.' If deemed advisable, a

guide separate from the ring 27 may be used to reciprocally mount theVrods 40. Lubricating oil may be delivered to the bearings of the crankshaft 13 and the connecting rods inthe usual manner, and to the outersurface of the cylinder members 14 and 15 through inner peripheralgrooves 7() and 71 formed in the rings 27 and 28, respectively.

The oil may be carried to said grooves'() and 71 in any of the wellknown methods such as gravity feed or force feed. Openings 74 and 74Aare formed through the walls of the cylinder members 14 and15,`respectively, and serve .to carry the oil from said grooves Vand 71to the pistons 18 and 19, respectively,

when said pistons have reached the end o1' the explosion stroke.

The pistons 18 and 19 are so mounted and spaced in regard to each otherthatwhen the piston 18 is at the bottom of the stroke or at its extremeposition' distant fromv the head 2O of the cylinder member 14, thepiston 19 is at a position adjacent the head 21 of the cylinder 15. Thecylinder members 14 and 15 being formed integral with or fixed to eachother and being pivotally mounted to the conH necting rod' 24 connectedto the throw or crank 26 of the crank shaft 13,A reciprocateY in therings 27 and 28 as the shaft`13 rotates.

The crank 26 being on the opposite side Yof "cylindrical openingl'between the piston 18 and the head 20 and an' explosion chamber 51 isl'ormed in the cylindrical opening 17 between the piston 19 and the head21. An eX- haust port53, or a plurality of exhaust ports,

are formed from the chamber 16 and so situated that'the piston 18 willuncover said port or ports ,when said piston has reached its extremeposition distantfrom the head 20, or in other words, when the piston hasreached the end ofthe explosion stroke. A similar eX-v haust port orports 54 are formed from the chamber 17 and similarly situated in regardto the piston19. A port or a plurality of ports 53A Vare formed inthering 27 and said ring is so lXed on the frame 29 that the port orports 53A will register or coincide with the port or ports 53 at the endof thc explosion stroke of the piston 18 in the chamber 16. The port orports 53A are connected to a suitable exhaust pipe 55.

A p ort or ports 54A are formed in the ring Y 28 and said ring is sosituated on the frame 29 that said port or ports 54A will register onthe port or ports 54 when the piston .19.has completed the explosionstroke in the chamber17. The port or ports 54A are 'connected to asuitable exhaust pipe 55A.'

Scavenger or fresh air is admitted to the chambers 16 and 17 throughoriices or ports 57 and 58, respectively, formed in the heads jleo 'ian

and 2l, respectively. A valve 59 operated in any of the well knownmethods by cams or rocker arms suitably timed and actuated, may beutilized to open or close the orifice 57 at the proper time foradmitting air to the chamber 16. A similar valve 60 similarly operatedmay be utilized to open and close the orifice 5s.

The fresh air is led` to the opening 57 through a. pipe G1 iixed to thecylinder inember 14 and telescoping in the pipe 62 fixed to the ring andconnecting through the pipe G3 with a pressure storage tank or suitablecompressing pump or the like. The fresh air is similarly led to theorifice 58 throughthe pipe 61A connected thereto and telescopiiig in thepipe 62A carried on the ring 28a-nd conl nected to the pipe 63A leadingto suitable compressing pumps or the like.

The fuel is admittedl into the chamber 16 through the oriiice'Gcentrally located inthe vhead 21. A suitable valve 66 is actuated in anyof the well known ways by cams or rocker arms suitably timed and servesto open .Or close the orifice 65 at the proper tiinefor admitting fuelto the chamber y16. The fuel is led to the orifice G5 through a pipe 67connected thereto and telescoping in a pipe 68 rigidly carried on thering 2T and connected by the pipe 69 to the source of fuel supply. Fuelis similarly admitted to the chamber 17 through the centrally locatedorifice 65A in the head 21 and a valve 66A similarly actuated to thevalve 65 may be utilized to close or open the orifice 65A at the propertime. Fuel is led to the orifice 65A through the pipe 67A telescoping`in the pipe 68A carried by the ring 28 and connected f through the pipe69A to a source of fuel supply. The pipes 67 and 67A telescoping intothe pipes 63 and 68A, respectively, act as Y pumps to compress the fueland force it under pressure through the orifice 65 and 65A,respectively. Y Y

In the operation of this invention, the pistons 18 and 19 and thecylinder members 14 and 15 reciprocate iii relation to the frame 29 andthe base 11 towards and away from the' crank shaft 13. The pistons 18and 19 being fixed in relation to each other and connected through thepivoted connecting rod 35to the crank 37 reciprocates in an oppositedirection to the cylinder members 14 and 15 which are connected througha pivoted connecting rod or rods 24 to the crank 26 in oppositerelationship to said crank v37 onl said crank shaft 13. The rings 27 and2S reciprocally mount the cylinder Vmembers 14 and 15 and serve toprevent rotation of said cylinders about the crank shaft. llfhis methodof connecting the cylinders and pistons to the crank shaft doubles thestroke of the pistons 18 and 19 in the cylinder recessesl 16 and 17,respectively, without increasing the crank throw of the crank shaft 13,thus allowing for a. greater compression oflthe fuelsi'n the chambers5() 'and 51 and for a'inore complete expansion of the burnt gases shaftw13, thus yeliminating to a greateXtent internal" stresses and strainsin theshaft 13 itself and' reduces the strains v,and end thrust isdisclosed as arranged for useasatwo-cycle Diesel engine in which thefuel gases are' eX- plodfed by compression and in which there is 1anexplosion-stroke in each cylindervin one revolution ofthel crank shaft.

In this case'it istobenoted that whencom-f pression istaking place inthechamber V50 the explosion andeXpa-nsion of Vthegases istaking Vplace inthe chaniberfland the piston v19 will '.75 onI the bearings 12. y Theengine in this case ie forced away' fromthe crank shaft 13 while A .Y Jthe cylinder 15 is being projected towards the chai'nber50 vthepiston 18.in this case is forced towards the crank shaft 13 while the cylindermemberV 14 is forced away from saine.V Thus,for`one complete revolutiono-f the crank shaft 13 there will be four direct impulses on the crankshaft, two delivered through the connecting rod 35 from the pistons 18and 19, one impulse beingtowards the cylinders 14 and 15 and one awayfrom said cylinders, and similarly two deliveredV through the connectingrod or rods 24 from the cylinder kmembers 14 Vand 15. Thus a fairlycontinuous torque or turning effort is exerted `on the shaft 13. l

As stated above, this invention is disclosed for the sake of convenienceas being adapted foroperation as a two cycle so called Deisel engine,but it is to be understood that this arsaid shaft. 'Iheopposite actiontakes place when the are exploded and expended 1n Y rangement of pistonsVand cylinders could readily be adapted for vuse as a four cycle Deiselor other internal combustion engine or even as a steam expansion enginewithout going beyond the scope of thisinvention vas set forth andclaimed by me.

V1What I claim is: y

1. In reciprocating engines, a female piston forming'combustion chamberson either side and male pistons reciprocating in said chambers, inletand exhaust ports in said female piston, and a crankshaft connected tosaid female and malepistons.

2. In reciprocating engines, a female piston forming combustion chamberson either side andmale pistons reciprocating in said chambers, inletports in said female piston and operated thereby andl exhaust ports insaid female piston controlled by the movements-thereof together withsaid male pistons, and a crankshaft connected to said female and malepistons.`

3. In reciprocating engines, va female pis-.130l

ton forming combustion chambers on either side and male pistonsreciprocating in said chamhersl inlet and exhaust ports 1n said fea malepiston; and a crankshaft connected to fio said female and male pistonscausing the fema'lepiston torec'iprocate in the opposite direction tothe movement of the male pistons.

4L. In reciprocating engines, stationary rings having rods Journalled ona crankshat and having exhaust ports, a female piston forming combustionchambers on either side Y and slidable in said rings and connected tocrank throws on said crankshaft and having inlet ports,`and male pistonsreciprocating in said chambers and connected to an oppog site crankthrow on said crankshaft.

Signed at the city of Toronto7 this 20th day of Decemben 1928.

HERBERT JAMES ALDERSON.

